Philosophy 101: Syllabus, Crafton Hills College, Spring 2015 Section 50, LADM 304, MW, 5:00 - 6:20 p.m. Richard Leon Linfield, Ph.D., D.D. llinfiel@craftonhills.edu; voicemail (909) 307-8740(909) 307-8740 Website http://introtophil.wikispaces.com
In this course, five fundamental fields of philosophy are the focus of a historical and analytical approach to the subject, examining the lives and theories of major philosophers. The fields are metaphysics, ethics, epistemology, aesthetics and logic. Specific philosophical problems are explored in the course: proofs for God’s existence, ethical relativism vs. ethical absolutism, free choice vs. determinism, the nature of consciousness, quantum science, gender equality, and the future of politics and economics.
Purpose: to create a foundation for all humanities and social science majors as well as for those in technical fields, so that one’s everyday life, both personal and professional, benefits from personal experiences of insight and from knowledge of wisdom traditions.
The Text: Moore and Bruder, Philosophy: The Power of Ideas. 9th edition ONLY. McGraw-Hill, ISBN 9780078038358. One copy is on my reserve shelf at the main desk at the library.
Required materials: For turning in and keeping writing assignments, one thin non-plastic two-pocket portfolio (not a report cover). The portfolio should have your name written prominently and legibly on the cover. Also, fifty 4x6 index cards for use in class.
Work: Readings in the text for every class. Required readings also include postings on the website and handouts. Frequent quizzes and exercises; most tests and exams are open book/open notes, and therefore require in-depth thinking, no just identification. Classes include intensive small team sessions, five mini-exams, a midterm, and a Term Project on a philosophical issue that has a personal impact on you. The mid-term and final exams include identifications, multiple choice questions and short essays.
Contacting the instructor: You are welcome to email or phone the instructor, but not to get an assignment nor to turn in an assignment. Assignments are accepted by email only if you are going to miss a cl;ass and wish to turn in th assignment in advance.
Percentages for final grade: Quizzes & exercises (10%), 5 mini-exams (50%), midterm (15%), final (10%), term project (15%).
In-class activities include a “Fiver” - a five-minute exercise on a 4x6 card exactly at the beginning of each meeting - as well as other exercises, including pop quizzes on the readings and lectures. In-class activities cannot be made up if you are late or absent. Each unsatisfactory or absent Fiver deducts 2½ points from your grade.
Writing requirements: All assignments must be typed double-spaced except certain forms filled out by hand. In the upper left, type your name, Philosophy 101, and the date you turn in the assignment. Type the title of the assignment centered at the top. Allow 1” margins all around. Assignments must be free of spelling and grammar errors to be accepted for a grade.
Attendance is required. If you enter late, at the end of class turn in a 4x6 card with your name on it, or you’ll be counted absent. Three unexcused absences are allowed (one for the once-a-week class). Over this limit, unexcused absences lower your grade. Leaving early = ½ absence. Absences can be excused with medical documentation, but not for other reasons (not for broken car, work conflict, vacation travel, no babysitter, etc.). Please inform the instructor of any absence in advance if possible. If you miss a class, please contact a classmate for the assignment, and only then contact the instructor if necessary. If you miss a class, you must do the reading and any assignments regardless.
Note: This course is an oasis of free thought and communication. Your honest questioning and expression, and your contributions to the understanding of the instructor and of your fellow students, are invited.
Calendar
The sequence begins with a historical overview, then moves into topical reviews of moral and political philosophy, philosophy of religion, feminist philosophy, eastern influences, and post-colonial thought. Specific reading and writing assignments are given week to week.
1. Jan 12-14 Course introduction: What is Philosophy & How Can You Use it? Intro to Seven Big Issues Five Areas of Philosophy: Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics, Aesthetics, Logic
2. Jan 19-21 Religion compared to philosophy Philosophy at the Greek Beginning: Pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato The Cave: Role-Play Exercise I
3. Jan 26-28 The Cave: Role-Play Exercise II Aristotle, Augustine, Hypatia
4. Feb 2-4 The Cave: Role-Play Exercise III
5. Feb 9-11 Aquinas, Descartes End of the Middle Ages: Copernicus, Galileo
6. Holiday Feb 16; class Feb 18 Descartes, Scientific Revolution Hobbes, Locke, Berkeley, Spinoza Term Project Proposal due
7. Feb 23-25 Review Mini-Exam 1
8. Mar 2-4 Western Discovery of the East: Hinduism, Buddhism Schopenhauer Emerson and American Transcendentalists
9. Mar 9-11 Term Project Outline and Sources Due Mid-Term Exam
Mar 16-20 Spring Break: no classes
10. Mar 23-25 Existentialism: Camus, Sartre, Heidegger Reason and the Syllogism Intro to Moral Philosophy: Voltaire
11. Mar 30-Apr 1 Moral Philosophy, cont'd: Cynics, Skeptics, Epicureans, Stoics, Socrates, Aquinas Hobbes, Hume, Kant, Nietzsche, Mill Flex Day Wed: No Class
12. Apr 6-8 More on the syllogism Modern political “isms”The history of human rights Universal Human Rights declaration Just War Theory & Pacifism Mini-Exam 2
13. Apr 13-15 Political and Economic Philosophy: Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Mill, Marx American Constitutional Philosophy Jonathan Haidt: Liberal & Conservative Term Project Update Due
14. Apr 20-22 Religion and Philosophy, Medieval to Present-Day: Anselm, Aquinas, Leibniz, Hume, Kierkegaard More Eastern Perspectives: Zen Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism "Spiritual but Not Religious" New Age: Paramahansa Yogananda, Edgar Cayce Mini-Exam 3
15. Apr 27-29 Feminism and Philosophy: Mill, Wollstonecraft, de Beauvoir, Mary Daly, Nodding, Gilligan, others Post-colonialism: African, African-American, Native American, Latin American and South Asian thought
16. May 4-6 Consciousness: Thomas Nagel, Mind & Cosmos Be Your Own Hero: Joseph Campbell & Mythology for Personal Development Mini-Exam 4
17. May 11-13 Mini-Exam 5 Exam Review & General Discussion Term Project due (soft deadline)
16. May 18-21: Finals week Final Exam Monday May 18
Section 50, LADM 304, MW, 5:00 - 6:20 p.m.
Richard Leon Linfield, Ph.D., D.D.
llinfiel@craftonhills.edu; voicemail (909) 307-8740
Website http://introtophil.wikispaces.com
In this course, five fundamental fields of philosophy are the focus of a historical and analytical approach to the subject, examining the lives and theories of major philosophers. The fields are metaphysics, ethics, epistemology, aesthetics and logic. Specific philosophical problems are explored in the course: proofs for God’s existence, ethical relativism vs. ethical absolutism, free choice vs. determinism, the nature of consciousness, quantum science, gender equality, and the future of politics and economics.
Purpose: to create a foundation for all humanities and social science majors as well as for those in technical fields, so that one’s everyday life, both personal and professional, benefits from personal experiences of insight and from knowledge of wisdom traditions.
The Text: Moore and Bruder, Philosophy: The Power of Ideas. 9th edition ONLY. McGraw-Hill, ISBN 9780078038358. One copy is on my reserve shelf at the main desk at the library.
Required materials: For turning in and keeping writing assignments, one thin non-plastic two-pocket portfolio (not a report cover). The portfolio should have your name written prominently and legibly on the cover. Also, fifty 4x6 index cards for use in class.
Work: Readings in the text for every class. Required readings also include postings on the website and handouts. Frequent quizzes and exercises; most tests and exams are open book/open notes, and therefore require in-depth thinking, no just identification. Classes include intensive small team sessions, five mini-exams, a midterm, and a Term Project on a philosophical issue that has a personal impact on you. The mid-term and final exams include identifications, multiple choice questions and short essays.
Contacting the instructor: You are welcome to email or phone the instructor, but not to get an assignment nor to turn in an assignment. Assignments are accepted by email only if you are going to miss a cl;ass and wish to turn in th assignment in advance.
Percentages for final grade: Quizzes & exercises (10%), 5 mini-exams (50%), midterm (15%), final (10%), term project (15%).
In-class activities include a “Fiver” - a five-minute exercise on a 4x6 card exactly at the beginning of each meeting - as well as other exercises, including pop quizzes on the readings and lectures. In-class activities cannot be made up if you are late or absent. Each unsatisfactory or absent Fiver deducts 2½ points from your grade.
Writing requirements: All assignments must be typed double-spaced except certain forms filled out by hand. In the upper left, type your name, Philosophy 101, and the date you turn in the assignment. Type the title of the assignment centered at the top. Allow 1” margins all around. Assignments must be free of spelling and grammar errors to be accepted for a grade.
Attendance is required. If you enter late, at the end of class turn in a 4x6 card with your name on it, or you’ll be counted absent. Three unexcused absences are allowed (one for the once-a-week class). Over this limit, unexcused absences lower your grade. Leaving early = ½ absence. Absences can be excused with medical documentation, but not for other reasons (not for broken car, work conflict, vacation travel, no babysitter, etc.). Please inform the instructor of any absence in advance if possible. If you miss a class, please contact a classmate for the assignment, and only then contact the instructor if necessary. If you miss a class, you must do the reading and any assignments regardless.
Note: This course is an oasis of free thought and communication. Your honest questioning and expression, and your contributions to the understanding of the instructor and of your fellow students, are invited.
Calendar
The sequence begins with a historical overview, then moves into topical reviews of moral and political philosophy, philosophy of religion, feminist philosophy, eastern influences, and post-colonial thought. Specific reading and writing assignments are given week to week.
1. Jan 12-14
Course introduction:
What is Philosophy & How Can You Use it?
Intro to Seven Big Issues
Five Areas of Philosophy: Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics, Aesthetics, Logic
2. Jan 19-21
Religion compared to philosophy
Philosophy at the Greek Beginning:
Pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato
The Cave: Role-Play Exercise I
3. Jan 26-28
The Cave: Role-Play Exercise II
Aristotle, Augustine, Hypatia
4. Feb 2-4
The Cave: Role-Play Exercise III
5. Feb 9-11
Aquinas, Descartes
End of the Middle Ages: Copernicus, Galileo
6. Holiday Feb 16; class Feb 18
Descartes, Scientific Revolution
Hobbes, Locke, Berkeley, Spinoza
Term Project Proposal due
7. Feb 23-25
Review
Mini-Exam 1
8. Mar 2-4
Western Discovery of the East:
Hinduism, Buddhism
Schopenhauer
Emerson and American Transcendentalists
9. Mar 9-11
Term Project Outline and Sources Due
Mid-Term Exam
Mar 16-20 Spring Break: no classes
10. Mar 23-25
Existentialism:
Camus, Sartre, Heidegger
Reason and the Syllogism
Intro to Moral Philosophy: Voltaire
11. Mar 30-Apr 1
Moral Philosophy, cont'd:
Cynics, Skeptics, Epicureans, Stoics, Socrates, Aquinas
Hobbes, Hume, Kant, Nietzsche, Mill
Flex Day Wed: No Class
12. Apr 6-8
More on the syllogism
Modern political “isms”The history of human rights
Universal Human Rights declaration
Just War Theory & Pacifism
Mini-Exam 2
13. Apr 13-15
Political and Economic Philosophy:
Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Mill, Marx
American Constitutional Philosophy
Jonathan Haidt: Liberal & Conservative
Term Project Update Due
14. Apr 20-22
Religion and Philosophy, Medieval to Present-Day:
Anselm, Aquinas, Leibniz, Hume, Kierkegaard
More Eastern Perspectives:
Zen Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism
"Spiritual but Not Religious"
New Age: Paramahansa Yogananda, Edgar Cayce
Mini-Exam 3
15. Apr 27-29
Feminism and Philosophy:
Mill, Wollstonecraft, de Beauvoir, Mary Daly,
Nodding, Gilligan, others
Post-colonialism:
African, African-American, Native American,
Latin American and South Asian thought
16. May 4-6
Consciousness: Thomas Nagel, Mind & Cosmos
Be Your Own Hero: Joseph Campbell
& Mythology for Personal Development
Mini-Exam 4
17. May 11-13
Mini-Exam 5
Exam Review & General Discussion
Term Project due (soft deadline)
16. May 18-21: Finals week
Final Exam Monday May 18